GREG GAMBLE’S MONDAY NIGHT ATS MAYHEM

ATS – NFL: 16-16 - NBA: 7-8 - College: 22-23 - MLB: 116-91

I’ve never been so unhappy with a Bears TD then I was yesterday when small-hands Rexy threw a 59-yard bomb to Bernard Berrian. And it had nuttin’ to do with me hatin’ on the short-former Gator, and all about making sure the Bears start from scratch with the QB situation this off-season and don’t get sucked into giving Grossman another chance. Yes, he throws a nice deep-ball…we know that, and so does everybody else in the league besides the Raiders. Last year, Grossman looked great early in the year as teams didn’t realize that he couldn’t throw in the flat (or see over a Spud Webb), but by mid-season teams adjusted their coverage and quickly turned him into the biggest liability at the QB position since the invasion of the Billy Joes in the 1990s. Once the Bears’ playoff hopes are officially over, I’d rather they give Kyle Orton the keys just so we can see if he’s a capable #2 or #3. With that, congrats to the Illini for beating the cockiest program in the nation and the Bulls for making my write-up last week look more on-point than the reviews from Titty-Titty Bang-Bang as they were waxed by 30 at home against the Raptors. Way to f*ck with the youngsters’ heads this off-season Paxson! Opposed to having 1 or 2 guys in the Kobe talks, let’s put the entire roster in the rumor mill and throw-in some contract negotiations to boot...that’s what we here at Insideplays call Rae Carruth smart Johnny Pax! As for tonight, just another day of investing and drinking…what, you have something better planned?

NFL/NBA TEASER

SAN FRAN 49ERS (2-6) @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-4) (teased to -4)
SACRAMENTO KINGS (2-4) @ UTAH JAZZ (5-2) (teased to -9)
Even though it looks like Alexander and Branch are out, I can’t see how this game is very close tonight. To tell you the truth, the way Alexander has tip-toed like a basement sex-slave sneaking to freedom, I’d rather see Mo Morris in the backfield and Hasselbeck throwing more against SF’s weak secondary. While Branch will be missed, SEA has D.J. Hackett (6 catches, 58 yards, & a TD last week) back in the mix and the ageless Bobby Engram catching everything in sight. As for the 49ers, after opening the season with wins over St. Louis & Arizona, Mike Nolan’s squad has been an embarrassment offensively (averaging 11 ppg last 6 weeks) and defensively (giving-up 26 ppg last 6 weeks). Alex Smith still looks like a college-system QB and really doesn’t have the weapons to keep the defense off their ground game, with the exception of TE Vernon Davis. While I’m far from a Waterbirds believer, they won 23-3 at SF in week 4 and are desperate for a win after an OT heartbreaker against Cleveland.

Final Score: 49ERS 13 WATERBIRDS 27

As for my NBA partner in the tease, it’s not crazy to think Jerry Sloan’s disciplined squad may have the best record in the league. After last season’s playoff magic, the Jazz have added a swagger to their game and are getting improved play from AK-47, not to mention, Deron Williams (21ppg, 10.4 apg) & Carlos Boozer (25.4 ppg 12.6 rpg) are legitimate MVP candidates. Throw-in a deep bench, the emergence of Ronnie Brewer at the 2-spot, and a unique home-court environment, and this team can handle anybody in the West. As for the Kings, they have absolutely the worst frontcourt (Brad Miller, Mikki Moore, Kenny Thomas, etc.) to compete with the versatile play of AK-47, Mehmet Okur, Booz, & Paul Millsap. While SG Kevin Martin and SF John Salmons have been solid on the wing, they’ll have a tough time finding open looks with long-arms and sold D of Brewer & Kirilenko. Not to mention, the Kings are 0-3 on the road and have lost by an average of 17 ppg away from Arco Arena. Oh yeah, and with Mike Bibby out…it looks like Beno Udrih & Francisco Garcia will be manning D-Williams…WINNER CHX DINNER my friends!...Jazz by 14-18 points

*Added play...Injury news!NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (5-2) (-2) @ NEW JERSEY NETS (4-2)
While I have no idea how J-Kidd and his ol' knees or D. Armstrong and his ol' everything will be able to slow down Chris Paul (aka CP3), the bigger news tonight is that Vinsanity is out. Especially with Kidd's terrible shooting % and no low-post game to speak off, I don't know how RJ can carry the load for the Nets. Not to mention, Byron Scott is always extra motivated when playing the team that ran him out of town, so don't expect him to call off the dogs once they get up. The Hornets blew-out the 76ers yesteraday and were able to rest all their regulars, which means David West and Tyson Chandler should have a field-day with the slow frontcourt of the Nets (Jason Collins, Nenad Krstic, & Jamaal Magloire). While the Nets will be able to tread-water in the East with injuries, as the Hornets learned last year, they need to win as many games as possible with everybody healthy just to make the playoffs in the West, so look for them to take full advantage of NJs injury situation tonight...Hornets by 6-10 points